Joint for a spreader for an extension stepladder



March-31, 1953 D. o. FosHEE 2,533,376

JOINT FOR A SPREADER FOR AN EXTENSION STEPLADDER Filed Jan. 2, 1951 2SHEETS-SHEET l BY Q e ATTORNEYS March 31, 1953 D, o, FosH-EE 2,633,376

JOINT FOR A SPREADER FOR AN EXTENSIO STEPBADDBR Filed Jan. 2, 1951 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 32 E45* BY M 34 5 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 31, 1953UNITED STATES -frENT OFFICE JOINT FOR A SPREADER FORAN EXTENSIONSTEEIJADIISERv Dum/ccd0. Foshee, J a'cksonville, Fla.

ApplicationJanuary 2, 1951, Serial No. 203,895

An object of this invention is to provider a stepladder constructionhaving extensible legs with the `base legs formed ofextruded channels.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extensible stepladderwhich. will stand rm in extended position.

A further object' off thisv invention is to provide an improvedcollapsible bracing. means between the front and rear legs.V

With the above and otherk objects in viewmy invention consists in thearrangement, combinationand details of construction disclosed inthedrawings and'specication, and then more particularly pointed'out'in the'appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detailed side elevation of an extension stepladder partlybroken away and in section embodyingV this invention'.

Figure 2 is a detailed front elevation of the stepladder.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Figure1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5 6 of Figure1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5 6 of Figure1.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Figure l.

Figure s is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figurel.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of one oi the bracing members.

Referring to the drawings the numeral I9 designates generally a pair offront channel-shaped leg members which are secured at their upper endsby means of angle members I I and fastening devices I2 to a top step I3.The channel members I9 are generally of substantially C- shape and asshown in Figure 3 each front leg member IU is formed of an inner hatwall i4 having substantially right angular outwardly extending anges I5integral therewith. Each ange I5 has formed integral therewith atransversely arcuate guide member IS, the concave inner sides of theguide member I6 being disposed in confronting relation. The outer edgesof the arcuate guide members I6 are formed with outwardly projectingflanges I1. An extensible leg member generally designated as I8 isslidable within each channell member I9 and is formed with an elongatedwooden strip which is provided' on the inner side thereof with alongitudinally extending channel I9 confronting the inner wall Ist.Y Theopposite longitudinal edges of the strip or extensiblev leg memberconcave sides ofthe guide member I9 and' is'also formed'with arabbet 2lwithinwhich the flange i'isadapt'ed to engage. The leg member I8`is alsoformed with a rabbet 22 adjacent the outer" edge thereof' with 'whichthe flange il is' adapted toengage. i8 is formed with av plurality ofvertically spaced apart sockets or keepers 'which communicate-l with thechannel'ori cutout I9.

The leg members i3 are adapted to be adjustedr lengthwise ci the channelmembers I9 by means of' a pair of' spring pressed leg locking boltsA24vwhich are slidably disposed in a horizontallyy disposed housing` 25ofY tubularA configuration which is provided at eachend thereof with` aanged-tting Iii-secured by'fastenngv means 211V to the' inner' sides oflthe channel members' IU. The tubular member 25 is positioned" adjacentAthe lower ends of the legs or channel members i0, and the bolts 24 arespring pressed outwardly to locking position by means of spring 28 whichengages between forwardly projecting pins or operators 39 which areslidable through longitudinal slots 3i formed in the guide tube 25. Aplurality of vertically spaced apart steps 32 are secured between theleg members i9, and the latter as shown in Figure 2 are disposed inupwardly convergent relation. The steps 32 engage inwardly projectinglugs or brackets 33 which are struck from the inner wall I4 and thesteps 32 are secured to the lugs 33 by fastening means 34. Eachextensible leg member I9 has secured to the lower end thereof a rubbershoe or anti-friction member 35 so that the extensible legs I8 will notslip on a smooth surface.

The stepladder also includes a pair of rear collapsible leg membersgenerally designated as 38 which are formed of channel shaped legmembers 37 pivoted as at 38 to the angle members I I. The channelmembers 3i are of substantially the same configuration as the channelmembers I0, being of substantially C-shape, and the channel members 31are braced in upwardly convergent relation by means of a pair of crossedbracing members 39 and lll). The bracing members 39 and 40 are securedtogether by a central securing member 4I and are secured at their upperends to the inner sides of the channel members 31 by fasten- IS isformed with' rounded` bead shaped edges 29' engaging inl the,

The inner side of each leg member ing devices 42. The leg members 36also include extensible legs 43 which are slidable in the channelmembers 31 and have the same configuration in cross section as the legmembers I8. The extensible leg members 43 are formed with sockets orkeepers 44 communicating with a longitudinal channel 45 formed on theinner side of each leg member 43, and spring pressed locking bolts 46are engageable in selected sockets 44. The spring pressed bolts 46 areconstantly urged outwardly to locking position by a spring 41 whichengages between operators 52 carried by the bolts 46. The bolts 4S areslidable in a tubular housing or guide 49 which is formed at theopposite ends thereof with a flanged fitting 50 secured by fasteningmeans I to the inner sides of the channel members 31.

The lower ends of the bracing members 39 and 40 are secured to the upperone of the fastening members 5l which secure the fittings 50 to thechannel members 31. Each pin or operator 52 which is secured to theinner end of a bolt 45 slidably engages through an elongated slot 53formed in the guide tube 49. The lower end of each extensible leg 43 hassecured thereto a shoe 54 which is preferably formed of rubber or thelike so as to prevent slipping of the leg members 43 on a smoothsurface. The rear leg members 35 are adapted to be held in extendedoperative position by means of a pair of connected together links 55 and56. The forward end of link 55 is pivotally secured as at 51 to theinner side of a leg member I0, and the rear end of link 56 is pivotallysecured as at 58 to the inner side of a rear leg member or channel 31.The inner end of link or bracing member 56 is provided with a revertedand obliquely bent extension 59 which is pivoted by means of a, pivot 60to the inner end of link 55. The obliquely exposed extension 59 forms astop member 6| which is engageable with the upper edge of the link 55 sothat the two links 55 and 56 will be disposed in substantially parallelrelation when these links are in extended operative position.

The stepladder hereinbefore described is so constructed that the upperor stationary leg members which are channel shaped in transverse sectionmay be formed by the extrusion process. The channel shaped leg members,both stationary and pivoted are adapted to be formed out of relativelylight weight metal such as aluminum or the like so that the stepladderwill be of relatively iight Weight.

What is claimed is:

A joint for a collapsible bracing means formed of a pair of flatelongated straight links, one end of one of said links being reverselyfolded upon itself at an acute angle to the remainder of said one linkand spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the thickness ofsaid link, the folded portion having an aperture therein, one end of theother link engaging between said one end and the reversely foldedportion thereof, said one end of said other link having an aperturetherein, and a pivot pin extending through said apertures securing saidother link to said reversely folded portion, an edge of said reverselyfolded portion engaging the adjacent edge of said other link to therebyform a stop and hold said links in substantially parallel extendedposition.

DURWOOD O. FOSHEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 806,501 Rouse Dec. 5, 1905861,583 Foster July 30, 1907 943,655 Coss Dec. 21, 1909 1,419,765Schilling June 13, 1922 1,419,791 Wehrman June 13, 1922 1,942,849Thrasher Jan. 9, 1934 2,0075 13 Gaiers July 9, 1935

